TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Alabama's 2014 signing class received its first official member Wednesday.

Jarran Reed, whom 247Sports considers to be the third-best junior college defensive tackle in the nation, signed his letter of intent, according to a Tweet from East Mississippi Community College, and is anticipated to enroll at Alabama in January.

Reed (6-4, 310) amassed 66 tackles and 3.5 sacks for the Lions, who won last week's NJCAA championship. The Goldsboro, N.C., native initially originally signed with Division II Fayetteville State out of high school but did not qualify academically and played the
2011 season at Chatham (Va.) Hargrave Military Academy. After he transferred to
EMCC in 2012, he ultimately signed with Florida in February, but was unable to graduate in time.

"I feel like I've been playing football year-round with no
break," Reed told AL.com last week. "Our team did
a great job. We all did it together as a family.

"I'm ready to get in there and work (at Alabama). ... It's a
great program. It's hard to turn down a great program. It's the best way you can become a better player, and a better person."